BREAKING: HRC AND EQUALITY NC CALL ON UNIVERSITY OF NC OFFICIALS TO DO THE RIGHT THING - REJECT HB2, COMPLY WITH FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW: HRC and Equality NC sent a letter today to the chancellors and presidents of the University of North Carolina and North Carolina Community College systems urging them to protect the wellbeing of their students, and billions in federal funding, by complying with this week’s U.S. Department of Justice order to reverse implementation of the discriminatory HB2. “Tens of thousands of students, faculty, and college employees across North Carolina have been harmed by HB2,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “The Department of Justice has now affirmed HB2 violates the civil rights of those in the UNC community, and we therefore urge all public universities and colleges to reverse its implementation. This is not only the right thing to do, it is the law.” The DOJ told state officials, including UNC President Margaret Spellings, that they have until Monday to comply with federal law. Read the full letter here.

TRANSGENDER WOMAN SHARES HORRIFIC SUBWAY RIDE, HILLARY SHARES SUPPORT, SOLIDARITY: Pearl Love, a transgender woman living in New York City, was physically and verbally assaulted on the subway on April 28. The horrifying incident, which Pearl bravely captured on video and shared on Facebook earlier this week, was a chilling window into the consequences of ignorance, hate and transphobic rhetoric. Between notes from from friends and allies, one heartfelt message stuck out.

NOTORIOUS ANTI-LGBT GROUP TARGETS TRANSGENDER TEEN: The Alliance Defending Freedom, one of the most dangerous organizations working to prevent equality for LGBT people across the globe, has now set its sights on a transgender high school student in Illinois. The hate group that uses its broad reach to promote discriminatory legislation and foster anti-LGBT initiatives across the country and internationally, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over its settlement with the student’s school district which allows her access to locker facilities consistent with her gender identity. Here’s our ever-expanding list of 10 shocking facts about the group. More from The Washington Post.

NC HOUSE SPEAKER TAKING HIS TIME: Despite ramming the bill through the Legislature in less than a day, House Speaker Tim Moore cavalierly said yesterday that state officials will let the Monday deadline to reverse implementation of HB2 “come and go.” The News & Observer calls Moore’s defiant position “nonsense,” and “a waste” wrought by the state’s bumbling GOP leadership, adding:, “Surely the speaker learned his high school civics better than this.” And The Charlotte Observer calls the choice on HB2 “obvious,” saying North Carolina “can obey federal law” or the state “can fight -- and lose in so many ways.”

Cracks in the facade?The Charlotte Observer is reporting that Moore may not be speaking for all GOP leaders. A spokesman for NC Gov. Pat McCrory tells the newspaper that governor does plan to have a response to the DOJ’s order by Monday’s deadline. He did not offer further details.

Icing on the cake ... Former talk show host Montel Williams sent a #lovewins #RepealHB2 cake to the NC’s House Majority Leader’s office yesterday. More from The News & Observer.

MEANWHILE IN ALABAMA: HRC Alabama and its supporters marked the end of Alabama’s 2016 legislative session in a celebratory mood. While seven anti-LGBT bills were introduced, not a single one passed the state legislature -- including an awful measure that would have allowed state-based foster care and adoption agencies to reject qualified LGBT prospective parents based on the agency’s religious beliefs, and a mean-spirited anti-marriage equality resolution.

LGBT VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT TRUMP, SAY #IMWITHER: Given Hillary Clinton’s pro-equality history and Donald Trump’s dismal record with the LGBT community, a new poll showing LGBT voters favor Hillary over Trump by a whopping 4-1 margin comes as no surprise. More from The Washington Blade.

EAT MORE CHIKIN… NOT! NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is urging New Yorkers to boycott the Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain over its history of anti-LGBT stances. More from Towleroad.

DO NOT ENTER… New Jersey Democratic Sen. Raymond Lesniak wants to ban state-funded travel to states with anti-LGBT laws. More from NewJersey.com.

READING RAINBOW

PBS discusses how North Carolina’s discriminatory bill affects far more than just bathrooms… The Chicago Tribune highlights the story of a transgender prom queen… A 59-year-old transgender woman talks about how Target’s bathroom policy gives her hope in The Star Tribune…and ABC News breaks down the potential, devastating impact Tennessee's new counseling law could have on LGBTQ youth...

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